Adrienne Smith

4th Grade Is So Much Fun!

I joined the Bell Elementary family in 2012 feeling as if I had won the lottery securing a position to teach in Buncombe County. I began teaching 1st grade and moved up to 4th grade four years later. After teaching all four core curriculum subjects for the first 5 years, I began teaching math and social studies only to all our 4th grade students.

I grew up in a small town in southwestern Ohio and am proud to say that from kindergarten through 12th grade, I learned from amazing public educators. After graduation, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia where I attended Emory University and received a B.A. degree with a double major in English and history. Eleven years later, I re-entered the academic world where I earned my K-6 teacher licensure in the post-baccalaureate program at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

I chose to be a public educator for several reasons. I fervently believe in the immense value of public education and the critical role it plays in our society. I loved my own experiences as a student and I remember the significant role those teachers played in my development as a learner and as an individual. I hope to have that same effect on those that I teach. If students leave my class and remember their 4th grade year as an experience that was meaningful and fun, I've achieved what I set out to do.

My classroom is a busy and energetic learning environment that attempts to balance various learning styles with the core curriculum we must learn. Technology is used to streamline and enhance learning rather than as a replacement for teaching. We use Google Classroom as a learning management system and Class Tag as a communication tool for families. Behavior management is delivered through the lens of leadership and growth, along with a classroom economy structure.

When students, families, and other educators enter my classroom, I want them to know that students are given ample room to learn and grow from their mistakes. Student misconceptions and mistakes are what challenge me to further develop my own abilities as an educator.